Susie Branson

Key facts of Susie Branson: she's a junior in CAP, her favorite food is peanut butter, she plays soccer and lacrosse, she can't stand talking on the phone, loves country music, and her favorite ice cream is Phish Food. She is way too competitive for her own good, and you can always find her watching her favorite shows like Greys Anatomy, Ugly Betty, Project Runway, the OC, and Alias. She also has over 1000 nicknames, so feel free to add one to the list!

Stories (48)

Pushing herself against the weight of the water, she feels strong and powerful. In a graceful swooping motion, her hands repeatedly rise and then dive back into the water, continuing as the dull pain in her legs and arms begin and her muscles start to ache.

He will never forget the flashing red and blue lights in his rearview mirror. Panic seized his throat as he managed words to tell everyone in the car to sit down and be calm. As the police officer approached his window for speeding, the next five hours were a blur of citations and handcuffs as his friends were arrested for underage drinking.

As the weather heats up, so do the hallways! Spring fever is sparking fashion passion as students and teachers are pulling out their most beloved shorts, skirts and shirts from the depths of their closets. While the cold rolls back across our northern border, Silver Chips Online brings you the newest fashion crazes for the spring - styles as fresh as the weather.

It's time to get back to jumping on those beds, cranking up the stereo and screaming lyrics in your car, because Kelly is back! Kelly Clarkson's fourth album, "All I Ever Wanted," released Mar. 10, has not only dissipated some of the recent embarrassing dismay of her third album, "My December," but revived her popular status as the spunky, energetic artist we all know and love.

Three, two, one - BEEP. The gym erupts with victorious cheers as the stands struggle under the weight of jumping fans who are supporting their fellow classmates and school. Or at least, it should have.

There are deadlines, responsibilities, meetings and pressures. Organizing a rigorous campaign is just the beginning of it. Three years ago, current junior Andrew Hyder sat in class, eyes glued to the television screen as two candidates running for the Student Member of the Board outlined their respective platforms. Listening to high school hopefuls debate, Hyder knew he wanted in.

Despite the growing urge to remain curled up under those warm sheets wrapped in that favorite pair of sweats, Blazers have continued to burn up the hallways in the latest winter fashions. Silver Chips Online now brings you the hottest winter trends to keep us sizzling through the winter weather.
The resident SCO fashion expert calls on colorful hats, pea coats, thermal long johns and cheery moccasins to brighten up the average dreary winter outfit. However, beware the articles of clothing that are on the way out. Stay classy, Blair - read on to learn more.

With 2009 just around the bend, the denizens of Silver Chips Online have brought you a blend of the latest predictions that we have penned. And you ask: What fabulous fads have come to an end? Well update your status and text all your friends, you're off to read The List and find out the trends.

The day I had been looking forward to for over a year finally came on Tuesday - the day I would finally have an impact and make a difference. The day I would vote. Walking up to Pine Crest Elementary School to cast my vote, I thought about all of the friends I hope to represent - frustrated friends who had missed the voting cutoff by a single week, day and even hour. I also hoped that my involvement would not only stand for the views of the 53 percent of voters ages 18-24 that didn't vote in the 2004 election, according to PBS, but to also decrease this percentage for the 2008 election.

As the election draws near, polling predictions and Electoral College selections seem to bombard us nearly ever hour. To respond to these forecasts, we at Silver Chips Online have devised out own, more scientific predictions for those Blazers who are simply unsure who will win this heated contest. We have created, using only the most trusted techniques in the industry, eight key tests for the outcome of the 2008 election.

Reds, oranges and yellows blur before the eyes of juniors Adam Hallberlin and Justin Rattey as they leap through the air. Plunging into their first annual pile of leaves for the autumn season, smells of dirt, grass and sweat engulf their senses. Even though their arms ache and their hands are covered with new calluses from raking all day, the corners of their mouths curve into a smile as they both think the same thing: it's fall again!

An explosion of red and white. Pom-poms flying through the air. Face paint. These activities are what I think of when envisioning the perfect pep rally. With one fall sports pep rally already under our belt, every Blazer has experienced the excitement of either attending or participating in these rare yet spirited events. With this being said, each Blazer has also therefore experienced the balloon of disappointment when walking out of the stadium back to a car or bus after being forced to endure another pathetic outdoor pep rally. Although my notions on these school-sponsored rallies are somewhat based on cheap TV shows and the media, why can't the Blair administration just let us experience this clichéd high school tradition? For the first time in what seems like a million years, Blair sports are taking off and finally making a name for themselves in the county. However, the administration's compulsions for unnecessary changes are damaging the already-diminishing school spirit within Blair.

Silver Chic is back for its second year of announcing and denouncing the most popular fashions on the Blair Boulevard runway. Silver Chips Online is here to report the hottest trends from horns to hooves of the new back-to-school fall fashion. Leave it to Blair to take the top trends and twist them into their own, devilish ways. Congratulations Blazers for an impressive, fashionable entrance into the fall semester - we can't wait to see what you do with the rest of the year!

Social studies teacher Rondai Ravilious is stepping down from her position as the Student Government Association (SGA) sponsor, she announced this month. The incoming sponsor for the 2008-2009 school year has yet to be decided. Ravilious, who will continue in her seventh year at Blair in the fall, explained her rationale as a desire to focus more on classroom instruction.

The boys' track team took third place and the girls' team tied for fourth with Whitman High School at the 4A West regional competition on Wednesday and Thursday, May 14 and 15 at Magruder High School. The competition awarded a total of nine Blazers for 15 various events, advancing them to the state competition that will take place on Friday and Saturday May 23 and 24 at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. The 4A West division consisted of over 13 schools from the Montgomery County area, sending the top four runners in each event to the state competition.

As senior Gabriela Acosta walks into her Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology classroom, a tall female teenager with short brown hair and a button up shirt stands at the front of the board talking to teacher Julia Smrek. While students continue to file into the room and take their seats, Acosta assumes the new girl to be a transfer or guest from another school. However, Smrek instead turns around and introduces the guest as Ms. Emma Aguilar, the class's new student-teacher for the semester from the University of Maryland. What Acosta soon came to discover in her AP Psychology class is that she and her new student-teacher would not only share the same classroom, but also the same birthdate.

Juniors Elena Gooray and Melissa Mergner took first place in Maryland for the annual nationwide National History Day (NHD) competition on April 26 for their documentary "Forgotten War, Unforgettable Aftermath: Legacy of Conflict and Compromise in the Korean War." The team will continue to the national round competing against 100 other contenders from all 50 states at the University of Maryland on June 19.

Readers have seen mango recipes from smoothies to salads, but Silver Chips is throwing another curveball of fruit-tacular eats: mango bread! This warm-weather treat is perfect for a picnic or at the pool to re-energize you for that day in the sun. Not only is this bread quick to whip up for guests, but the combination of mango, raisins and a hint of lemon leave eaters in a tropical bliss crazy for more! Be the first to introduce this fun and unique recipe to friends and family, you are sure to make a real splash!

Candidates for the 2008-2009 Student Government Association (SGA) delivered prepared speeches in the Student Activity Center (SAC) during both lunches today in anticipation of elections that will be held tomorrow and Friday. The speeches lasted for less than a minute each and outlined each candidate's campaign platform.

The Student Government Association (SGA) announced the sophomore class as the second annual Charity Challenge winner this week. The fundraiser, sponsored by the SGA, was designed for each grade to raise money for a charity selected by each of the four class presidents. All four combined grades raised $237.18, according to the SGA.

An unplanned fire evacuation took place at the beginning of sixth period today due to a "glitch in the system," according to Blair business manager Jim Funk. A fire technician was subsequently called to the building to further investigate the cause of the alarm, but nothing has been discovered.

Sitting in front of a computer, senior Abreham Tsefaye types feverishly at the keyboard. While he could be playing games, browsing Facebook or watching YouTube like a typical teenager, Tsefaye is instead dedicating his time towards bettering the community.

In the back of Blair's Career Center, a woman with straight brown hair sits patiently in front of a group of five eager girls. Spread before them is a wide variety of colorful flyers and pamphlets addressing a topic that will eventually affect every American. As a warm smile spreads across her face, registered nurse Megan Matthews begins to share the passion and experiences of her career and the reason for her visit - to help curb the shortage of nurses.

The Blair varsity boys' basketball team sulked off the court Tuesday night after falling to the Walter Johnson Wildcats by a familiarly close score, 54-48. A reflection of Blair's disappointing down-to-the-buzzer season, the game dropped the team's season record to a dismal 3-15.

For Winston Churchill High School students Brenton Thomas Everson, 17, and Richard McManus, 16, it was supposed to be a quick trip to CVS. But after McManus lost control of his car at 2:30 a.m. on Jan. 21, Everson became yet another addition to the number of automobile accidents that have killed over a dozen Maryland teenagers since November.

The attraction to this small Mexican restaurant on Georgia Avenue initially begins with the catchy, festive name, but soon develops into more, as La Bamba offers a spectacular blended menu of spicy cultural Mexican food. Unfortunately, while the restaurant's recent renovation is the first step in transforming the dingy interior into a cute and quaint setting, certain elements of the old drab La Bamba still remain, resulting in a dining experience that may encourage certain audiences to "La Bamba" their way out of there.

In their twelfth straight loss of the season, the varsity boy's basketball team brought their spiraling record to an embarrassing 2-12, falling to the Blake Bengals in yet another heartbreakingly-close match, 50-48.

The 67th annual Intel Science Talent Search (STS) released the names of the 300 semifinalists today, five of which are Blair students. Among the participating high schools nationwide, Blair came eighth-highest in its number of semifinalists, but placed seven fewer than in 2007 and 2006.

As the winter winds chill through winter coats, retreat to the warmth and comfort of your favorite holiday-friends: gingerbread folk! Not only will they fill the entire house with a festive cinnamon scent but they will also warm stomachs and melt hearts with their little raisin-eyes. These fun treats bring a little more spice to family and friends during the holiday season, whether they're in your cookie-jar or hanging from the Christmas tree!

The varsity boys' basketball team has been nominated for Fox 5's High School Game of the Week, according to Rich Dunne, sports producer for Fox 5 in Washington, D.C. The boys' 7 p.m. game at Wootton High School this Friday is one of five area high school games that are featured on the Fox 5 web site.

NELSON H. KOBREN GYMNASIUM, Dec. 6 –
Following several seasons of utter disappointment, Blair's varsity boys' basketball squad set a different tone for the program in a convincing season opening win against the Einstein Titans, 53-37.

Students who came to school Oct. 22 saw a new addition to Blair's student parking lot: a totaled car from a young adult's recent fatal accident induced by drunk driving. The SGA ordered the car from the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) to remind students throughout the homecoming week of the severity and dangers of drunk driving.

Like bugs to a light, a swarm of girls gather around a bonfire nibbling on pizza and roasting s'mores. Giggles and guitar melodies combine with smoke swirling through the air as they zip up their jackets against the brisk fall breeze. Engulfed by the relaxing warmth and glow of the orange blaze, these seven girls decided to spend their Saturday together instead of attending Blair's annual homecoming dance.

Two of the most popular staple-breakfast meals are French toast and eggs. So why combine the two favorites and make an out-of-this-world breakfast experience? Thanks to the French toast casserole, this phenomenon is more than just possible, it only takes 50 minutes to heat up the next morning! Although the thought of a casserole for breakfast may send you screaming back under your covers, don't let the name alarm you. Save yourself the trouble of cooking a variety of little breakfast-foods early in the morning and instead serve this perfect breakfast-treat dish to any large group of hungry guests.

BLAZER FIELD, Oct. 18-
As the final whistle of the game pierced the air, Blair's JV field hockey team victoriously jogged off the field at their last home game of the season after crushing the Einstein Titans 6-0. This win finished the Blazer's season with an outstanding record of 7-2-2.

Coming off of a victorious high after their dominant win over Wheaton last week, the junior varsity field hockey team faced the reality of a much stronger Paint Branch defense. Overcoming disorganization and miscommunication, the Blazers conquered the Panthers 2-0 and lifted their record to 5-2-1.

Blair's piano lab in room seven was completely revamped over the summer to cater to piano, music theory and music technology classes. These updates include new software, communication boxes, flat screen monitors, a digital sound system and improved headsets.

BLAZER FIELD, Sept. 20-
Blair's JV field hockey team scraped by with a 2-1 win against the Richard Montgomery Rockets in double overtime on Thursday. The two evenly matched teams were tied 1-1 for a majority of the game, but the Blazers' strong offense pulled through in overtime and brought their record to 2-1-1.

The annual Student Activity Fair will take place this Friday during both 5A and 5B lunch in the hallway leading up to the SAC and into the courtyard. The activity fair, hosted by Blair's SGA, will feature approximately 20 different clubs and sports teams.

On the first day of school, students cluttering the hallways at Blair seemed to glow of one color: skin-tones. Spaghetti straps, boxers and short-shorts were the clothing – or lack of clothing – that paraded around the school. However, due to the additional regulations prohibiting spaghetti-strap tops, skirts or shorts that are not fingertip length and pants worn below the waist, the hallways now sparkle with the brilliant colors of new clothes this season.

BLAZER FIELD, Sept. 5 –
Blair's JV field hockey team tied the Walter Johnson Wildcats Wednesday in a frustrating scoreless home opener that continued into double overtime. Knotted in an even match, the Blazers' failure to capitalize on scoring opportunities cost them the victory.

The construction of the new labyrinth, started this past May by members of the local Blair community and the Woodmoor Garden Club, is only halfway complete, with little funding left. The labyrinth, which was originally to be completed before the start of the coming school year, is located in the open space outside the art wing on the Colesville Road side.

Staring down at her manicured hands, Biology and ESOL environmental science teacher Jenny Tanner reflects on a time when those same hands felt as if they were on fire after she ripped seeds out of poisonous peppers for a day.

What did Hollywood do to society's beloved Nancy Drew? The true mystery in this dreary modern adaptation of the classic detective novels is actually how Nancy found herself in such a lifeless plotline.